MANILA – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has filed a complaint and is looking to press criminal charges against an SUV driver who hit a motorcycle and an enforcer who attempted to stop his escape.
In a press conference at the MMDA headquarters in Pasig City on Thursday, MMDA Acting Chair Don Artes said a two-page complaint was sent to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) asking for the driver to be given disciplinary sanctions.
“A driver's license is a mere privilege, not a right, granted by the state, which if abused and misused may be suspended or revoked by the state, thus, will always yield to the general welfare of the community,” Artes said.
The driver’s attempt to escape during the incident, he said, showed that he was “undeserving of his driving privilege and as such, should be stripped or suspended thereof until he can show worthiness thereto once again.”
The driver, he said, has appeared before the MMDA and admitted that he was driving the SUV in the incident.
The SUV was registered to the driver’s wife.
Despite the apology, the MMDA is preparing to file attempted homicide and direct assault charges against the driver, he said.
“He will face criminal charges as a result of his actions. Any explanation is not acceptable because the incident has elements of assault upon a person in authority and has intent to cause harm to our enforcer,” he said.
Based on the Southern Police District’s traffic accident investigation report, the road incident happened along Sales-East Service Road, Barangay Western Bicutan, Taguig City at 8:52 a.m. on Tuesday.
The SUV driver initially side-swept a ride-hailing motorcycle who then attempted to block the SUV until the latter drove away.
MMDA enforcer Allan Harry Sadiua noticed the incident and responded but the SUV driver ignored the enforcer and left the area.
Sadiua chased and managed to intercept the SUV, putting himself in front of the hood of the SUV to prevent the driver from escaping but he was hit and dragged for 500 meters from the incident area.
He was able to move away from the SUV when it stopped due to slow-moving traffic. (PNA)
